Deodorant for ash trays



Sept. 20, 1955 R. F. HUDACHEK 2,718,432

DEODORANT FOR ASH TRAYS Filed Dec. 3, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l I N VEN TOR.

Sept. 20, 1955 R. F. HUDACHEK 2,718,432

DEODORANT FOR ASH TRAYS Filed Dec. 3, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEY- United States Patent DEODORANT FOR ASH TRAYS Richard F. Hudachek, Glendale, Calif.

Application December 3, 1951, Serial No. 259,569

2 Claims. (Cl. 299-24) This invention relates to an improved deodorizer for ash trays and has for one of its principal objects the provision of means which will satisfactorily reduce and often times actually eliminate the objectionable odor of half smoked cigars and cigarettes when deposited in a conventional or other ash tray.

One of the important objects of this invention is to provide a deodorizing element which can be removably positioned on an ash tray and which is provided for the reception of a pellet of some deodorizing material, which is of a nature to slowly disintegrate or evaporate, while at the same time, diffusing fumes which will either neutralize or effectually disguise the objectionable odor of cigar or cigarette butts.

Another important object of the invention is to provide, in an ash tray, means for receiving a pellet or other portion of some deodorizing material, incense or the like and which will gradually dissipate itself, thereby disguising or overcoming the objectionable smell which inevitably arises from ends of cigars or cigarettes, halfburned matches and other materials which are commonly deposited in ash trays.

Still another and further important object of the invention is the provision, in an ash tray, of means for receiving a deodorizing pellet which can be readily placed in position in the ash tray and which will gradually diffuse fumes by slow evaporation until it is exhausted and which fumes will render less objectionable the smell of portions of the cigars and cigarettes deposited in the tray and which tray will also include a receptacle for a package of ordinary matches, whereby the same will be in convenient reach for immediate use whenever desired.

Other and further important objects of the invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the accompanying drawings and following specification.

The invention, in a preferred form, is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an ash tray showing the improved deodorizer of this invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the receptacle for the deodorizing element.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of the receptacle showing the deodorizing element in position therein.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the deodorizing element adapted to be employed with the device of this invention.

Figure 5 is a sectional view illustrating a slightly modified form of the invention.

Figure 6 is an exploded view of portions of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a detailed perspective view showing another modification of the invention and also illustrating the built-in receptacle for a package of matches.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken along the broken line 88 of Figure 7 and illustrating further details of construction.

Figure 9 is a perspective view showing a modified form of the invention.

As shown in the drawings:

The reference numeral 10 indicates generally an ash tray of conventional design which, however, may be of any other type of structure. Adapted to be removably fitted onto one edge or wall of the ash tray 10, is a container 12, preferably in the form of a rectangular parallelopipedon. However, the shape may be varied to meet the changing requirements. It may be cylindrical, for example.

The container 12 is provided with a plurality of openings 14 in at least one face and in the ends, these being for the purpose of allowing diffused vapors from a deodorizing pellet 16 to exit from the container 12 and mingle with the contents of the ash tray in order to disguise or eliminate the smell of such contents.

A hook 18, preferably formed of a piece of spring wire bent to desired shape, is afl-"ixed to the container 12 in any suitable or desired manner and preferably has an extension 20, which is mounted interiorly of the container whereby the pellet 16 will be positively retained in the container.

The rear face of the container 12 is open for convenient insertion of the pellet and this face, unless very closely'fitted against the interior of the ash tray, will also allow of some diffusion of vapors from the pellet as it slowly disintegrates.

The spring clamp 18 can be affixed to the inner face of the container 12 by soldering or in some other convenient manner and the clip portion 20 may be either integral therewith, a separate element or may be omitted completely, depending upon conditions.

The pellet is best shown in Figure 4 and is preferably in the shape of a cylinder adapted to conveniently fit inside the container 12. This shape and size may be varied as desired or convenient.

In Figure 5 there is illustrated a modified form of the invention in which an ash tray 30, of conventional size and shape, is fitted with a combination deodorizing element and auxiliary cigarette holder.

The deodorizer element includes a casing 22 of box like form, which is open at the bottom for convenient reception of a pellet 26, similar to the pellet 16 and the sides of which container are pierced with openings 28 for vapor diffusion purposes.

A stabilizing means in the form of a frame of some extra heavy metal, such as lead, is provided at 32 and which preferably extends above the periphery of the inner lower edge of the container 22, whereby the entire device will retain its upright position in the tray 30, even though it is subjected to treatment which may result in some relative motion.

A container 22 is preferably provided with a removable cover 34, which is equipped with a cigarette holding frame 36, shaped as shown and which provides an extra support for burning cigarettes, which supplements the supports 38 usually mounted on the edges of the conventional ash tray. The cover 34 may be made integral with the container 22 or the container may be equipped with a bottom which in turn may consist of a layer of heavy stabilizing material.

In Figure 7 there is illustrated an ash tray of a slightly dilferent shape, being approximately square as shown at 40 and having depressions 42 in the periphery of the upper edge thereof for the convenient positioning of half-smoked cigars or cigarettes. The tray 40 is likewise provided with a recess 44 in one side thereof, which recess is adapted for the reception of a pellet 46, similar to the pellets 16 and 26. This recess has an integral forward ledge 48 which prevents the pellet from becoming accidentally displaced from its containing recess 44, while at the same time allowing of a desired diffusion of vapors from the pellet as it disintegrates or evaporates.

It has been found that a pellet of a convenient size can be designed to last for approximately thirty days, which will render it operative, however, over this period of time and which will eliminate the necessity'of too frequent replacement.

The tray 40 is provided with integral juxtaposed ledges at its lower face as shown at 50, which are so constructed that they will provide a recess or receptacle for the convenient insertion of an ordinary package of matches as illustrated at 52. These juxtaposed extensions 50, form ing the match receiving recesses, can be on all four sides of the tray or on a lesser number of sides as desired and one or more recesses 44 may be provided for the reception of a deodorizing pellet, particularly if it is found that a single pellet will not sufiiee when a larger ash tray is employed.

In Figure 9, the container for the pellet is illustrated at 54 and is cylindrical with openings in its face and one end as shown at 56. A closure or cap of some kind is applied to the other end and, as illustrated at 58, can be merely a screw threaded cover adapted to be applied to the screw threaded end of the cylinder. A leaf spring clip 60 is applied to the cylinder 54 in any convenient manner, as by soldering, brazing or spot welding, and is so shaped and is of sufiicient resiliency that it can be fitted over the edge of practically any ash tray now in use and will firmly hold the cylinder with its contained pellet in desired position at all times. The same can be easily removed for renewal of the pellet or for washing or cleaning of the ash tray.

It will be evident that herein is provided a simple, yet effective, means for deodorizing, or at least disguising, the objectionable smell of the contents or ash trays and the same can be applied to practically any ash tray now on the market with little or no change or the invention can be incorporated into a completely new design of ash tray as embodied in the structure illustrated in Figures 7 and 8. This structure will, at the same time, include means for removably retaining packages of matches which provide an added convenience.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction varied throughout a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I, therefore, do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A deodorizing ash tray comprising a receptacle having relatively thick walls, a recess in one of the walls of the receptacle and a pellet of deodorizing material in the recess.

2. A device as described in claim 1, wherein an integral ledge is provided in the recess for retaining the pellet therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 177,712 Harlow et al. May 23, 1876 690,179 Schonenman Aug. 6, 1901 1,070,108 Brittain Aug. 12, 1913 1,253,603 Keagy Jan. 15, 1918 1,344,318 Slye et a1 June 22, 1920 1,700,574 Smith Jan. 29, 1929 1,895,406 Bleckman Jan. 24, 1933 2,352,075 Brownstein June 20, 1944 2,642,310 Meek et a1. June 16, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 734,831 France Oct. 28, 1931 tan. 

